This is not an exhaustive list, but it is exhausting. As you can see, no level of soccer in the country is immune to infighting, half-truths, struggles, corruption. From youth to pro, US soccer is unstable and under-performing. And it’s only because I care that I focus on all of the negative in soccer. Admittedly, some of the items in this list could be debated and/or removed, or seen in a different light, but the illustration holds that there is a lot to be worked on in US Soccer. We could be a world power if we unified our pyramid all the way down to the youth level, and it makes me sad that we aren’t.

[1] 2017 saw a 4% uptick in MLS TV ratings, but looking closer, ESPN was down, while FOX and Univision were up. Also, Atlanta and Minnesota came on as expansion franchises, accounting for the 4% growth (basically the only one watching MLS are people in MLS cities). Finally, ratings weren’t good in the first place, so lipstick on a pig.
[2] If you look at 2015 to 2016 change, 11 of the 20 MLS team attendance averages fell or remained flat. The 2017 numbers (up only 1.8%) are inflated by Atlanta.

Related Content:

Correlation is not Causation by Dv February 19, 2015 Don Garber, 2010: "we will drive the increased quality and success of the Canadian national team." Canada Soccer, 2014: "an…